A coroner has launched an investigation into why the body of a homeless man lay undiscovered for up to five days in a city council-run hostel.

Trevor Saigeman was living at Glenwood Lodge Hotel in Brighton when he was found dead on December 13 last year.

The 46-year-old's death is being linked to injuries caused by a car crash in October which was not reported at the time.

Coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley is investigating whether Brighton and Hove City Council contributed to Mr Saigeman's death by failing in its duty of care to him.

At a pre-inquest hearing she said: "One of the things I will be investigating is whether, had Mr Saigeman been found earlier, he could have been sent to hospital and therefore not died."

A full inquest was postponed yesterday (Wed April 11) after two witnesses failed to attend.

Outreach worker Serene Alston and Glenwood Lodge staff member Simon Smith both told the coroner they were ill at short notice.

Miss Hamilton-Deeley pledged to use powers to arrest witnesses who fail to appear after being summoned to court for the rescheduled hearing, expected to take place in July or August.

She said: "Mr Saigeman was a vulnerable member of Brighton and Hove society. For organisations to make a decision apparently deliberately and unilaterally about whether or not to attend to give me evidence is not acceptable."

Miss Hamilton-Deeley said a summons issued to Mr Smith, who discovered Trevor Saigeman's body, was not passed on to him when it was sent to Glenwood Lodge.

Mr Smith is now on sick leave and was unable to attend the hearing.

Ms Alston contacted the court less than two hours before the hearing was due to begin to say she was too ill to give evidence.

When the coroner called her back, there was no answer on her mobile phone.

Miss Hamilton-Deeley pledged to carry out a "full, fair and fearless" investigation.

She is expected to hear evidence from Sussex Police officers, Glenwood Lodge management and staff, Brighton and Hove City Council workers, consultant pathologist Andrew Rainey and former Glenwood Lodge manager David Raeburn.

Up to 44 single homeless men live at the hostel in Grand Parade.

She said: "I'm concerned to investigate the procedures and practices and policies which existed at the time of Mr Saigeman's death at Glenwood Lodge.

"In the many years I have been a coroner in Brighton and Hove, Glenwood Lodge has produced a higher number of deaths for me to deal with than almost any other address in the city's jurisdiction.

"These residents, who are very vulnerable, should have the kind of service which they are entitled to expect while within this accommodation."

A murder trial is due to begin next week over the death of another resident of Glenwood Lodge last year.

Matthew Heading, 41, was found dead in his room at the hostel in on June 23 last year.

A post mortem revealed he died from internal injuries which he suffered in an alleged assault two days earlier.